This Day the 2nd of August in Irish History.

In the year: 1999
Ireland's longest-serving rain observer, John Joe ‘Goggles’ Doyle retires; he has taken daily rainfall readings in his native Tulla since 1943 for Met Eireann and earned his nickname because of the goggles he wears when he takes his daily readings

In the year: 1932
Actor Peter O'Toole is born in Co. Galway

In the year: 2000
Co. Kerry, the country’s top tourism area, claims that business is down by about 20% because of the rail strike

In the year: 1988
The first Aer Lingus flight with an all-female crew departs Dublin for Shannon. The Shorts 360 commuter aircraft is piloted by Capt. Grainne Cronin and co-piloted by Elaine Egan

In the year: 1981
Death of Kieran Doherty, TD for Monaghan-Cavan, on the 73rd day of his hunger strike